Siphon equipment



W. F. THOMPSON Oct. 22, 1 940.

SIPHON EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 24.- 1938 nu iii 7 u in INVENTOR 'WilliaE'Thomrra 1v. BY

AT:TOTR EY Patented Och 22,1940

uui'rrzozdsrAras PATENT OFFICE sirnoit n zfilnnm I one-half to Walter W. 'Winchenbach, South Portland, Maine I a Application December 24, 1938, Serial No. 247,676

Claims. (01. 137-20) The invention hereinafterto be described rewhich encloses the mouth or top end of the lates, in general terms, to siphon apparatus, but carboy. I a deals more particularly with improvements thereconcentrically disposed on the discharge-tube in embodying structure by means of which the is an observation cylinder with a bushing at each v siphonic action is started without resort to rais- I endjtightly filling the annular space between the 5 ing the pressure above that of the atmosphere in discharge-tubeand cylinder wall. the vessel to be discharged of liquid, and by A retractile rubber bulb has connection with which, once the evacuation operation begins, the the observation cylinder through a' nipple in apparatus can-be maintained in primed conwhich is a float valve adapted to come to a seat dition for an indefinite period of time. v in the nipple when liquid rises to a'predetermined .A conventional method of operating siphon level in the cylinder, at which time no further devices, particularly where the liquid is to be disinflation or deflation of the bulb cantake place. chargedfrom large vessels having small mouths, An aspirator or breathing valve is located at is to first create a gagepressure within thevessel the outer end of the bulb and operates to prevent the mouth of which is tempr'irarily closed, and admission of outside air to the bulb after each 15 rely on this pressureto prime the discharge-tube deflation thereof. I to'start the siphoning, means being providedto Proper means are provided at the lower end air-vent the vessel from-which the liquid is, being portion of the discharge-tube to regulate and removed immediately after the drafting action control the outflow of the liquid from the apstarts. 7 v I paratus, the means being entirely out of contact .In the particular application which .I have with the liquid passing through and remaining in chosen to disclose my inventiomand in connecthe discharge-tube; tion with whichI, will illustrate and describe it, Forfa clearer understanding of the import of development of any gage pressure in the conmy invention referenceshouldbe had to thedetainer to bedischarged of liquid is prohibitiva'as scription found in the following specification, 2 in this instance the liquidholding vessel is a when taken in connection with the accompanying glass carboy'in which the highly corrosive acids, drawing disclosing an embodiment which, at the such as sulphuric, nitric, muriatic and others are present time, I consider preferable toother posmarketed and from-which the acid is drawn, sible forms' in which the invention might'be usually in small quantities, by the purchaser to carriedfout. I 30' fill his immediate needs. In the drawing, in which like reference char- Th a y are large glass Ves e s usuallyof acters indicate like parts in all the different about thirteen gallons capacity, with large bottle views? neck topsg are shipped from the factory Fig. 1 shows the apparatus mounted on an acid- 3 where the acid is made enclosed in wooden boxes holding carbom in Operative position; 5-

or crates, carefully packed and filled with the Fig 5 Section on line fi -3 'fi fn ig 5 Fig.3 is a sectional elevation of the observals ue argey o 6 more or less raglle tioncylinder' showing the operating bulb and character of these large glass acid containers that 40 manufacturers of acids or other-corrosive liquid s chemicals do 'not approve of siphon apparatus 4 shows the arge hose m? p051 for use in connection with handling their prom tloned to give full capacity outflow of dischargeuctwhich employ age-pressure means for rimtube; ing them. g Fig. 5 is like Fig. 4, except that thedischarge float valve holding element; 40

4 I have no intention, at this time, to discuss in hose is completely Shut off? detail the prior art, further than to point out the 6 15% 580151011 01111116 tfact that from the standpoint of those upon Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the float'valve whom devolves the. duty of r in these nipple within which is shown the hollow float dangerous chemicals from 'carboys the hereto- Valve? fore available apparatus has been adjudged de- Fig- 3 s a Sec o 011 e 50 ficient and unsafe. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the rotatable My present invention, briefly stated, embodies closing element for the fixtureshown in Figs. an integrally formed tubular structure combining 4 and 5. a draft-tube and a discharge-tube. The draft- In the drawing, 1 represents a wooden box-the G5 tube has mounted thereon a vented rubber cap shipping container'for the glass carboy 2 in which 5, float-valve, this operation, of course, being perthe mouth 21) of the carboy. The cap has an air vent at 4a.

Rising from the bottom interior portion ofthe carboy is a draft-tube 5. After passing through the portion 4b of the cap the draft-tube bends in an easy curve and turns downwardly to become the discharge-tube 6 of the apparatus.

At a'predetermined distance from the uppermost partof the tubular structure a glass observ- V ation cylinder 1 is concentrically mounted on the discharge-tube 6. The cylinder has a bottle end neck & in which is an opening 8a. The discharge-tube 6 passes downwardly through this opening, and in the annular space between the discharge-tube and the neck of the bottle end of the cylinder is a tightly fitting, acid-resisting bushing 9, made of somewhat compressible material to insure a leak-tight joint between the parts.

The lower end portion of the cylinder 1 and its neck portion 8 is protected by a rubber cap Ill, and its upper end is likewise protected by another rubber cap I l. The intermediate portion of the cylinder is covered with a coarse wire screen l2.

A port hole or opening IS in the wall of the discharge-tube provides communication between the interiors of discharge-tube 6 and the cylinder I, the opening being at the bottom of the chamber C so that the latter can be fully drained when de-priming the apparatus. 1

The upper end of the cylinder 1 has a tight fitting, acid-resisting bushing l4, through a hole Ma in which passes the discharge-tube 5, the latter also making an air and liquid tight fit in the bushing. The members H and I4 are perforated to receive with a leak-proof fit the float-valve nipple l5. The nipple depends into the chamber C in the cylinder 1, and the upper portion of the nipple extends upwardly out of the member H sufficiently far to permit mounting thereon the lower shank end 16a of the retractile bulb Hi.

If reference be had to Fig. '7 in will be observed that the glass nipple I5 is open throughout its length and that intermediate its ends is a ground seat l5a.

Within the compartment D of the nipple I5 is a hollow glass float-valve I! the upper end Ila of which is also ground to make an air and liquid tight joint when the fioat-valve rises into engagement with the seat l5a. The lower end of the nipple, !5b, is drawn inwardly a slight amount in order to prevent outward displacement of the formed after first inserting the float-valve in compartment D.

The lower end llb of the float-valve is flattened so as to provide ample space for air to pass upwardly by it in the operation of priming the discharge-tube.

On the upper shank end of the rubber bulb I6 is mounted structure shown in sectional detail in Fig. 8. Around the shank lBb of the bulb is a thick rubber sleeve [8, and seated in the upper apparatus.

end of this sleeve is an aspirator or breather valve 19. Across the opening lBc of the shank l6b is a bar 28 and connecting this bar with the valve I9 is an elastic rubber cord 2!. The function of this valve l9 will hereinafter be explained.

After passing downwardly through the observation cylinder 1, the discharge-tube 6, which may be made of any acid-resisting material, such as glass, metal, or any one of various acid-resisting compounds, makes connection with a; pliable rubber hose or tube 22, on which is mounted a tube clamp device designed to control the discharge or rate of outflow of the liquid from the The tube clamp comprises a rectangular shape, open-side member'23 having lateral inwardly disposed flanges 23a on which is slidably mounted a tube 24 having on each end two slots 24a cut diametrically of the tube and straddling, respectively, the lateral flanges 23a.

On the tube 24 is a rotatable sleeve 25 which contacts the soft, pliablerubber tube 22 and acts to progressively reduce theeffective rate of outflow of the liquidfrom the apparatus as it is moved toward the narrower end of the hose clamp, and conversely,- to increase this outflow as it is slid along the clamp from the narrower toward the wider end portions thereof.

Fig. 4 shows the outflow-control sleeve positioned for maximum discharge of the liquid, and Fig. 5 depicts it in a position in which the discharge is completely stopped. Intermediate positions of the sleeve on the clamp give corresponding degrees of opening of the hose and discharge of the liquid. The expansibility of the tube 22 acts to frictionally hold the sleeve 25 in any location in which it is placed'b'etween its extreme positions. The. ends of theflanges 23a are bent over at 23b soas to retain thetube 24 thereon.

In operating my siphon apparatus, after first being placed in position as shown in Fig. 1, the bulb IB is deflated by compressing it, the air mostly flowing outwardly through the opening lfib after having raised the valve l9 off the seat l8a. I

A comparatively small amount of the air may pass downwardly through the nipple l5 into chamber C and thence into the carboy 2. But no pressure develops inthe carboy as it is airvented at 4a. The discharge-tube is closed at this time. a

Now upon release of,compression of the bulb, permitting it to inflate, or regain its original shape, the air within it is rarefied and this immediately starts'a suctional action in the air line, and the liquid in the carboy starts upwardly in the draft-tube 5. It may be necessary to repeat the compression of the bulb operation, depending on the comparative areas of the bulb and tube interiors;. but eventually the displacement of the air by the liquid will prime the discharge-tube and the siphon action starts, immediately the discharge-tube is opened.

Each deflation operation on the bulb opens the valve 19 and'the subsequent inflation action closes it. After the siphonic movement of the liquid is under way the valve I9 is yieldingly held on its seat'by the rubber cord 2|, and unless this valve is moved off its seat by further deflation of the bulb or manual actuation thereof, the liquid will continue to discharge from the apparatus by siphon action, provided, of course, the hose clamp 23 is positioned to open the tube 22.

It will be understood that in priming the dischangc-tube in the first operation, the hose clamp closes thetube 22 until the discharge-tube 6 is filled. Thereafter, the liquid maybejwithdrawn from the carboy at; intervals, or continuously without the necessity of're-primin'g.

In the course'of priming the *apparatus the liquid will enter the hole l3 and rise a short distance in the chamber 0, say to line to -w, sealing the hole against entrance of air from the chamber C into the discharge-tube 6. With a tight fitting aspirator valve and the discharge-tube closed, the apparatus will remain primed for a considerable length of time.

Occasionally, however, the operator 'of the apparatus will either accidentally or unconsciously continue the deflation operation on the bulb further than isnecessary, and then the liquid will continue to rise in the chamber and were there no means provided to prevent it, it would even fill the bulb IS with consequent danger of escaping and injuring the operator.

But at this point the float-valve in the nipple 65 functions, and should the liquid rise to say the level of line ez, the float-valve will rise to the seat 5 5a and close access to the bulb. Should further deflation of the bulb be made, it will not inflate due to the fact that the rarefied air in the bulb will hold both the valves I1 and IS on their seats. The operator would, under these circumstances, be unable to further deflate the bulb as it remains deflated, unless the valve I9 is manually raised off its seat, breaking the vacuum in the bulb.

The automatic method of control of the rise of the liquid in the observation cylinder is a very important feature in my improved siphon apparatus, as it eliminates one cause for. serious injury to the workman which frequently occurs in using siphon devices of conventional construction.

Another appealing feature resides in the'very simple and conveniently actuated discharge control elements which are operated with one hand, the hose clamp member being held byv the fingers in the palm of the hand while the thumb moves the revolving sleeve up and down onthe inclined faces of the clamp.

De-zpriming of the apparatus is easily accomplished by lifting the valve l9 into the dot and dash line position shown in Fig. 8 and opening the hose clamp for free entrance of air into the discharge-tube.

What I claim is:

l. A siphon equipment comprising an inverted, U-shape tubular member combining the draft and discharge-tube elements thereof, an observation cylinder disposed on and concentrically with said discharge-tube, said discharge-tube having in its wall a relatively fixed opening through which communication between its interior and that of said observation cylinder may be had, said opening being located considerably below the union point of the two said tube elements, caps mounted on the top and bottom ends, respectively, of said observation cylinder, a float-valve nipple having a valve seat therein, extending into the interior of said observation cylinder and rising above the upper of the two said caps, a floatvalve disposed within said nipple, adapted to engage said seat only when liquid entering 'said observation cylinder rises to a predetermined level therein, a retractile bulb on the upper end of said nipple, an aspirator valve on the upper end of said bulb, means for manually actuating said aspirator valve for depriming said siphon equipmentfand means to openjand close said discharge tube predeterminately. I

"2.=In a siphon equipment for acid-holding carboy's the combination with an integral, two-leg tubular member, one "leg thereof constituting a draft-tube extending downwardly into said carboy',"'and"a vented cap mounted on said draft tube and disposed over the mouth of said carboy, of an observation cylinder on the other of said legs, said last mentioned leg constituting the discharge-tube of said tubular member, means for inter-communication between the interiors of said discharge-tube and said observation cylinder, said means being disposed at an elevation a relatively great distance below the union point of the two legs of said tubular member, a retractile bulb, a valve, opening outwardly, yieldingly mounted in the upper end of said retractile bulb, means on said valve for manually raising it from off its seat, interior communication means between said bulb and said observation cylinder and a valve seating in a direction opposite to that of said first mentioned valve adapted to close said interior communication means when liquid entering said observation cylinder reaches a predetermined level therein.

3. A siphon equipment comprising in combination with a draft-tube and an interconnecting discharge-tube, a closure member on the lowerend portion of said discharge-tube, a cylindrical member through which said discharge-tube tube passes leaving a spacewithin said cylinder closed at both ends, an aperture in the wall of said discharge-tube opening into said space and fixed relative to said cylinder, a nipple having a valve seat intermediate its ends, projecting into said space, a float-Valve in. said nipple closing, only, when liquid in said nipple causes the valve to rise to its seat in said nipple, means to rarefy the air in said cylinder space, said means being connected at one end to the outer end of said nipple, and a valve, seating inwardly, disposed at the opposite or outer end of said air rarefying means.

4. A siphon equipment for transferring liquid from one vessel to another comprising a drafttube insertable in the liquid containing vessel,

- a discharge-tube connecting therewith, a glass cylinder, closed at both ends, concentrically mounted on said discharge-tube, forming an annular space having communication with the interior of said discharge-tube, a retractile bulb having, normally, interior communication with said annular space, means to close communication between said bulb and said annular space when, in the course of priming said equipment, the liquid rises to a predetermined elevationin said glass cylinder, an aspirator valve on the outer end of said retractile bulb, seating inwardly, a pliable hose secured on the lower end of said discharge-tube, and a hose clamp mounted on said hose, adapted to control the outflow of liquid therefrom.

5. In a siphon equipment for transferring liquids from one container to another, the combination, with a draft tube and an interconnecting discharge tube having means for closing its lower end, of a glass observation cylinder mounted on and enclosing a portion of said discharge tube, forming a chamber, an aperture in the wall of said discharge tube supplying communication between said discharge tube and said chamber, protective means for said observation cylinder, a nipple, a portion of which is disposed in' and has interior communication with said chamber, a

at its outer end, opening upon the bulb being compressed, a spindle on the valve in said bulb for manually lifting it ofi its seat, and yieldable means for holding said valve in an ofi-its-seat position while depriming the siphon.

WILLIS F. THOlVIPSON. 

